Expanded-metal machine.



P. M. WHETSTONE.

BXPANDED METAL MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN.31. 1912.

Patented 1350.31, 1912.

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WTNEsSl-:s:

ATTDRNEY.

P. M. WHETSTONE.

BXPANDBD METAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.31. 1912.

Patented Dec.31,1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

hwENT'nR` NTURNY.

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WTNESEES:

P. M. WHETSTONB. EXPANDBD METAL MAOHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN.31, 1912.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTDR- WTNESSES:

www@

. ATTURNEY.

P. M. WHBTSTON 1:1.

BXPANDED METAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.31.1912.

`1,O48,6 17, Patented Dec.31,1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVENTDR WT'NESSES @ff/112% ATrRN EY F. M. WHETSTONE.

EXPANDED METAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.31.1912.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

6 8HEBTS-SHEET 5.

WTN EEEES."

I NVENTU F. M. WHETSTONE.

EXPANDED METAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.311 1912. 1,048,617. Patented 1160.31, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

FRANK MURRAY WHETSTONE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXPANDED-METAL MACHINE.

vSpecieation of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912,

Application tiled January 31, 1912. Serial No. 674,490.

j To all' whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK MURRAY WHE'rs'roNE, a citizen of the United States of America,'and resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expanded-Metal Machines, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to expanded metal machines, and more -part-icularly to an automatic machine for the manufacture of expanded metal or metal lathing.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a strong and durable machine whereby a series of unconnected cuts or incisions are made in a blank sheet of metal in such relation to each other as to break joints, and whereby the metal so cut is stretched or distended to form a series'of open diamond-shaped meshes inthe sheet.v

`The method ordinarily, employed in-Ithe production of expanded metal consists in producing in a blank sheet a lurality of parallel lines of alined cuts, s its, or incisions, each parallel tov the lateral edges of the sheet and at equal distances apart, the series of slits in each line being staggered with respect to those in the lines next adjacent thereto, or arranged in such relation as to break joints; after which the metal is opened or stretched to present the usual open or diamond-shaped mesh. In simultaneously cutting and expanding the metal by means of the machines in common use it is necessary that the sheet be first advanced a definite distance, then, after the formation of a series ofslits, shifted back slightly, or. a distance less than that of the advance movement, and then given another' advance moveoperations. Further, in such machines the slitting and expanding operations are commonly performed simultaneously in rows or lines of slits which are immediately adjacent. This process is objectionable for the reason that the return shifting of the sheets renders comparatively slow the advance of the sheet through the machine, and also for the reason that the expanding of the metalat points closely adjacent to the cuts being produced simultaneously therewith acts to distort or stretch the metal at the last mentioned cuts, resulting in said cuts not being properly positioned for the expanding devices to act thereon after the next advance of the sheet. In order thatl the metal may be readily expanded, the slits of adjacent rows must be in close proximity for forming intervening strands of narrow width; and, in those machines wherein the 4cutters and expanders simultaneously act upon next adjacent rows, the size and strength of the cutters is necessarily limited according to the width of the strands, resulting in more or less frequent breakage ofcutters and contively light gages of metal sheets.

It is a purpose of the present invention to obviate the recited objections, and this I accomplish by producing a machine which admits of the employment of relatively strong and massive cutters; a machine wherein the metal sheet is advanced by intermittent regular steps and without return shifting; a machine wherein the slits are produced by two separate pairs of cutters and at two separate and distinct operations; and a machine whereby incomplete slits are primarily produced in a sheet in a line removed a plurality of strandsA from the line in which they are completed and wherein the expanding means acts upon the metal at a llne of slits remote from the line in which the primary cutters simultaneously produce incomplete slits. And a further object Within the contemplation of the' invention is to provide `fining the said machines to use upon rela-l 4 a device wherein a posit-ive intermittently actuated feed for the metal blank is provided and embodying mechanism whereby the blank is advanced in a direction oblique 'to the plane of the cutters which act thereon,

after be exemplified, reference being had to l the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speclcation, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the inven- 110 n tion; Fig. 2 is a rear side elevation ofthe same; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 4c is a longitudinal section on the line 1 -4, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizona tal section illustrating the mechanism for operating the movable cutter head; Fig. 6

is a crossfsection on the line 6 6, Fig. 1, showing the movable cutter head in retracted position; Fig. 7 is asimilar section showing said cutter head in advanced reciprocating relation to the stationary cutter head; Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken on .the line 8-8, Fig. 5, showing the stationary cutter head with the upper cutters thereof removed. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional View taken on substantiallythe same line and enlarged'to substantially full size, illust-rating the application of the invention; Fig. 1() is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating the manner of expanding the metal of a blank;'Fig.A 11 is a top plan view of the leveling rolls; and Fig. 12 is a cross section of the same on the line 12-12, Fig. l1.

Referring to said drawings, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several views-1 indicates the horizontal bed of a table, said bed being sustained at a proper height by a suitable i 30 supporting frame 2. Located in said table at a suit-able point is a vertical slot-like feed passage or runway -3 through which` the blank sheet of met-al to be acted upon is di rected in' va manner which will hereinafter be described, said passage being adapted for receiving an'd maintaining the sheet in vertical, or edgewise, position as distinguished from a horizontal, or atwise, position. The bottom 3a of said passage is inclined upward 4@ from the outer, or sheet-receiving, end thereof, as is clearly shown in Fig. 8. While said passage, -which is in theformof a sawkerf, may be formed by the provision of a groove or channel in a single Asolid plate or bar, it is preferably formed between two vertically vdisposed rigidly connected plates 4 and 5, as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8,'said plates having their upper edges flush with the top surface 6 of la stationary cutter head 7, said surface being elevated slightly above the level of the table-bed 1. On said surface 6 is a longitudinal base member 8 on which is mounted a plurality of .cutters 9 upon which is seated a ller plate 10; and a plurality of cutters 11 is rigidly mounted on said filler plate. The outer edges of the member 8 and plate 10 and the outer ends of the lower cutters 9 abut against the face of a gib 12,' the position of which may be adjusted by means of set screws 13 projected through a flange 14 on the outer edge of ,the cutter head 7. The rows of cutters 9.and 11 have their inner ends projected inward beyond the corresponding edges of the member 8 and plate' l0 so as to lie close to the path of travel of a sheet of metal directed through the passage 3, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. y

Located parallel to the stationary cutter head described, and adapted to coperate 7@ with said cutters 9 and 11 on the opposite side of the path of travel of the sheet are two rows of cutters 15 and 16 carried by a reciprocating cutter head. The last mentioned cutter head comprises a longitudiynal bar 17 having a forwardly directed eX- tension 17a, resting upon the table-bed 1. A plate 18 is mounted on said extension with its rear edge abutting against a gib 19, and mounted on said plate are the lower cutters 15 whose front ends are adapted to coact with the lower cutters 9 of the stationary head 7 Overlying said cutters 15 is a ller plate 20 which has mounted thereon the upper cutters 16 adapted for coacting with 85 the upper cutters 11 of said stationary head. Said reciprocating head is actuated by a plurality of toggles 21 interposed between it and a longitudinally movable bar 22 located on the table-bed in the rear thereof, said toggles being connected to said bars 17 and 22 in any` appropriate manner, but preferably having their opposite ends received in recesses 23 and 24 respectively formed in the adjacent faces of said bars and mounted on pins 25 and 26. rI he said longitudinally movable bar 22 operates with its rear edge or face in engagement with the peripheries of a plurality of anti-friction' rollers 27 rotatably mounted within recesses 28 pro- 10( vvided therefor in a stationary bar 29 carried upon the table-bed, as shown.

`The bar 22 is reciprocated in a lengthwise direction by means of an eccentric 30 which is mounted upon ashaft 31 geared, as by a gear 32 and pinion 33, to a source of motive power, as the drive-shaft of a motor (the latter not shown). For reducing the shocks incident to reciprocation of said bar, a suitable yieldable buffer, as a coil spring 34, is preferably provided against which the outer end of said bar may strike prior to its reaching the limit of its thrust or outward stroke. y Appropriate mechanism is provided for intermittently feeding sheets of metal, as 50 in Fig. 8,into and through the feed paslsage or runway 3, said mechanism comprising in the present instance a set of feed rolls 35 disposed in front of the mouth of 120 said passage. Said rolls are arranged to feed the sheets lengthwise and edgewlse into said passage; being journaled in bearings provided in a suitable support or housing,

as the arms of a bracket 36 carried by .the 125 machine frame or housing 2. For feeding the sheets in a slightly inclined direction corresponding to the inclinationv of the bottom 3a of the feed passage, the feed rolls 35 are supported in inclined relation to the 1,30

frame, or at substantiallya right angle to the said bottom 3a. v A

One of the rolls 35 has an extended neck 37 with a bevel gear 38 thereon in mesh with a bevel gear 39 carried by a shaft 40 whichl one roll is' imparted to the other throughv intermeshing gears 42 and 43 carried by said rolls.

One end ofthe shaft 40 extends outward beyond the rear side of the frame or housing 2 and has rigidly mounted thereon a ratchet 44 adapted to be engaged by a suitable pawl or detent 45 carried by a yoke-like oscillatory lever 46 which is loosely mounted on said shaft in straddling relation to said ratchet, whereby oscillatory or rocking movement imparted to said lever. acts to in- A termittently impart a partial rotation to said shaft. The lower end of said lever 46 has pivotal connection with one end of a pitman 4.7 whose opposite end is eccentrically connected to the shaft 31- hereinbefore men-- tioned, as by a crank or wrist-pin 48 adjustably mounted on the face of a disk 49 carried by and concentric with said shaft, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

From the foregoing it will be understood that rotation of the motor drive shaft communicates to the rolls ,35 an intermittent forward rotation which acts to advance a sheet of metal received between said rolls a-t regularly timed intervals and in re lar steps, the length of the steps being regu ated by the number of teeth on the periphery of the ratchet 44 and the length of the thrust of the pitman 47, the latter 'being regulated by adjustment of the crank or wrist-pin 48 withres'pect to the axis of the shaft 31.

The movements of the bar 22 and pitman 47 are so timed relatively that each is thrust forward, or makes its forward stroke, during thevinterval in which the other is makin'g its return stroke. Consequently, the

movable cutter head is actuated to move forward during the interval in which the metal sheet remains at rest, and thefsheet is advanced during the interval in which the movable cutter head is operating in a posi'- tion wherein the cutters carried thereby are withdrawn from the path of ymovement of the sheet. Thus, the operation of advancing the sheet'does not interfere with that of reciprocating the cutters with respect to the sheet, and vice versa.

As is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 5, 8 and 9, the cutters of each row are disposed in a horizontal plane; however, said cutters are Vmounted in individual vs eats 63 provided therefor in"f their respective mountings,

which seats have an inclination in cross section parallel to the bottom 3 of the passage 3 through whichV the metal sheet is advanced. Thus, the cutters of each row, which are substantially rectangular in cross section, are located in echelon, Aor have staggered relation to each other,`and each has its cutting end lying directly p arallel to the path of travel of the sheets advanced through said passage.

,When a sheet, as 50, is directed by the rolls 35 into said passage 3, as shown in Fig. 8, the upper corner of its foremost end first becomeselevated to a point where it will be engaged by the coperating lower 'cutters 9 and 15 as the latter are carried forward by the reciprocating cutter head. With such reciprocation a single short incision parallel to the longitudinal edges of the sheet is made in said corner of the sheet. At the next advance movement of the sheet, the said corner is elevated a distance which is determined by the inclination of the bottom 3 of the passage 3 and bythe distance through which the sheet is advanced in such movement. And here it may be explained that the Width of the cutters to be employed and the distance to be traversed by the sheet in each advance movement thereof is preliminarily determined by the length' of the slits or incisions vwhich it is desired to form in the sheet. Further, the distance traversed with each advance movement of the sheet is determined by the length desired for the slits or incisions and the length desired for the unsevered portions which intervene between such incisions. In the present case, as depicted, the distance traversed by the sheet is substantially one and three fourths times the width of the cutters employed.

Each successive series of slits or incisions formed in the sheet after the rst,incision produced in the foremost upper corner, as aforesaid, lies in a direction oblique, or diagonal, to the center line of the sheet, and the slits of said series, being parallel to said center line, are located in echelon, or in staggered relation.

The incisions, as shown at 51 in Fig. 9, formed by the lower cutters 9 andv 15 acting upon the sheet after each advance movement of the latter are obviously of equal of insutlicient'width to cut slits of full, or

requisite, length in order that the producby .the lower'cutters, which latter are made tion thereby of a continuous slit throughout the length of the sheet may be prevented.

When a line of slits produced vby the lower.

cutters is elevatedinto the line of action 0f the upper cutters 11 and 16, the slits have their front ends extended beyond the front lateral edges of the cutters 16, as shown at 52 in Figs. 9 and 10, so that each of the ycutters 11 and 1'6 acting o-n thesheet will,

when the movable cutter head is advanced, act to produce a second cut which merges at its front end with the previously produced 'cut or slit in the sheet, lengthening the cut expanders engage the strand, as its severance is completed, near the front end ofthe slit and force the same back over the top surfaces of the cutters 11 of the stationary vcutter head, as shown in Fig. 10, drawing that portion of the rear end of the'strand just severed back through an open channel' 53 located between the rear lateral edge of the cutter 11 and the substantially upright shoulderv 54 defining the rear edge of the cutter seats 63 in the filler plate 10, the

v channels. 53 being formed by the arrangement of the cutters 1l in a position wherein the rear lateral edges thereof do vnot seat against said shoulders, as 'shown in said ligure.

- The two pairs of cutters being spaced apart a distance more or less remote, or equal to the combined widths of several strands, it is aparent that the cutters employed may be made of a considerable thickness and, therefore, of practically any strength desired, adapting them for use on heavy gages of metal and for forming rows of slits separated by extremely vnarrow strands. v

As is obvious, the expanded plate is discharged from the feed passage in.l a flat or horizontal position, and it advances in a direction diagonal to the center line of the machine. Prior to the complete discharge of the sheet from between the cutter heads, the front end of the sheet is grasped by a set of leveler rolls 55 arranged in suitable diagonal position, whereby the expanded sheet is flattened or smoothed out for removing any unevenness due t`o buckling or the like. Said rolls 55 have an intermittent drive timed in accord with the intermittent ing incisions o carried by the rolls of said set whereby they' are all driven in proper directions for advancing the expanded sheet therethrough.

`F rom the foregoing itrwill be seen that I provide a strong, durable and efficient machine of the character described which has various special advantages. It will be obvious that various changes in the structural form and arrangement of some of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the general spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Hence I am not to be understood as limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what'l claimas new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l1. A machine for producing reticulated metal work, comprising cutter heads, two distinct pairs of complemental cutters carried by said heads, a feed passage having an inclined' bottom in which a met-al sheet is supported in vertical edgewise position, means for advancing a metal sheet along said passage, means for reciprocating one of said heads with respect to the other across the path'of movement of the sheet, one of said pairs of .cutters cordinating with the other at remotely separated reciprocations for forming incisions of requisite length in said sheet, one complement of one of said pairs of cutters acting also to expand the metal.

2. A machine for producing reticulated metal work, comprising cutter heads, two distinct pairs of complemental cutters carried by said heads, means for advancing a metal sheet between said heads in constantly advancingsteps of uniform length, means for reciprocating one of said heads with respect to the other, one of said pairs of cutters cordinatin with the other for formrequisite length in said sheet at operations separated by a plurality of reciprocations, one complement of the last acting pair serving as expanders.

3. A machine for producing reticulated metal work, comprising cutter heads, two distinct pairs of complemental cutters carried by said heads, an inclined feed passage in which a metal sheet has a vertical disposition, means for advancing a metal sheet along said passage and between said heads 'nating with the other for forming incisions of requisite length in said sheet at separate operations, one complement of one of said pairs of cutters serving as expanders.

4. A machine for producing reticulated metal work, comprising cutter heads, two distinct pairs of complemental cutters carried by said heads, means for advancing a metal sheet between said heads. in constantly advancing steps of uniform length, means for lreciprocating one of said heads with respect to the other, one of said pairs of cutters coordinating with the other for forming incisions of requisite length in said sheet at separate operations, and means whereby the sheet is guided in a direction oblique to the plane of said heads, one of said pairs of cutters being adapted to 'produce in said sheet a line of incisions in advance of the action of the other air in suchline, one complement of one of) said pairs serving to expand the slitted metal.

5. A machine for producing reticulated metal work, comprising cutter heads, two distinct pairs of complemental cutters carried by said heads, means for advancing a.

metal sheet between said heads in constantly advancing steps of uniform length, means fori reciprocating one of said heads with respect to the other, one of said pairs of cutters cordinating with the other for forming incisions of requisite length in said sheetl at separate operations, said pairs being operated in unison and acting in lines separated from each other the width of a plurality of strands.

6. A machine for producing reticulated' metal work, comprising cutter heads, two

' distinct pairs of complemental cutters carters cordinatin ried by said heads, means for advancing a metal sheet between said heads i'n constantly advancing steps of uniform length, means for reciprocating oneu of saidheads with respect to the other, one of said pairs of cutwith the other for forming incisions o requisite length in said sheet, one of said pairs producing incomplete incisions and the. other completing said incisions at an operation a plurality of reciprocations subsequent to the production of said incomplete incisions.

A7.l A machine for producing reticulated metal work, comprising a pair of cutterheads, means for reciprocating one of said heads with respect to the other, a vertical feed passage having an inclined bottom,

means for advancing metal sheets in a vertical edgewise position along said passage 'and between said heads by intermittent steps, two se arated rows of cutters carriedby each hea said rows being arranged in produce incisions of inadequate length and vthe other being adapted to complete said incisions, one row of `cutters of the last mentioned pair being also adapted to effect the opening of the strands simultaneously with the production of the completed incisions.

8. A machine for producing reticulated metal work, comprising a pair of cutter heads, means for reciprocating one of said heads with respect to the other, means for advancing metal sheets between said heads by intermittent steps, two separated rows of cutters carried by each head, said rows bein arranged in oppositely disposed pairs and aving the cutters thereof arran ed in staggered relation whereby lines o incisions having staggered relation are produced in an interposed sheet with the reciprocations of said head, one pair of said cutters being adapted to produce incisions of inadequate length and the other being adapted l to complete said incisions, one row of cutters of the last mentioned pair being also adapted to effect the opening of the strands simul-` taneously with the roductin of the completed incisions, said) pairs of cutters being simultaneously actuated and operating on the sheet at a distance the width of a plurality of strands apart.

9. A machine for producingI reticulated metal work, comprising a pair of cutter heads, means for reciprocating one of said heads with respect to the other, means for advancing metall sheets between said heads vby intermittent steps, two separated rows of cutters carried by each head, said rows being arranged in oppositely disposed pairs and having the cutters thereof arranged in staggered relation whereby linesl of incisions having staggered relation are produced in an interposed sheet with the reciprocations of said head, one pair of said cuttersbeing adapted to produce incisionsof inadequate length and the other being adapted tocom-l plete said incisions at a reciprocation subsequent by a plurality of reciprocations to that' at ywhich the incomplete incision was formed, one row of cutters of the last mentioned pair being also adapted to effect the opening of the strands simultaneously with the production of the completed incisions.

10. A machine for producing reticulated metal work, comprising a pair of cutter heads, means for reciprocating one of said heads with respect to the other, means for. advancing -metal sheets between `said ,heads by intermittent ste s of uniform len h, two separated rows o' lcutters carried y each head, said rows being arranged in oppositely iso 'advancing disposed pairs and having the cutters thereof arranged in a Common plane wherein each is in staggered relation to the others wherebylines of incisions having staggered relation are produced in an interposed sheet with the reciprocation of said head, a guideway through which said sheet is directed obliquely to the plane of said rows of cutters and parallel to the planes of the individual cutters, said pairs of cutters being adapted to cordinate at remotely separated reciprocations for forming incisions of 'heads with respect to the other, means for advancing metal sheets between said heads by intermittent steps of uniform length, two separated rows of cutters carried by each head, said rows being arrangedpin oppositely disposed pairs and having the cutters thereof arranged ien a common plane wherein each is in staggered relation to the others whereby-line of incisions having staggered relation are produced in an inter-Kl posed sheet with the reciprocation of said head, a guide-way through which said sheet is directed obliquely to the plane of said rows of cutters and parallel .to the planes of the individual cutters, one pair o-f said cutters being adapted to produce incisions of inadequate length and the other being adapted to complete said incisions at a reciprocation subsequent bya plurality of reciprocations to that at which the inadequate incisions were produced, and one of the rows of the last mentioned pairs ofl cutters operating to open the severed strands simultaneously with the completion of their severance.

12. A machine for producing reticulated metal work, comprising a pair of cutter heads, means for reciprocating one of said heads with respectl -to the other, means for metal sheets between said heads by intermittent steps of uniform length, two separated rows of cutters carried by each head, said rows being arranged in oppositely disposed pairs and having the cutters thereof arranged in a -common plane wherein IIGSSBS.

` relation are produced in an interposed sheet with the reciprocation of said head, a guidev way through which said sheet is directed obliquely to the plane of said rows of cutters and parallel to the, planes of the individual cutters, one pair of said cutters be.- ing adapted to produce incisions of inadequate length and the other being adapted to complete said incisions at a reciprocation subsequent by a plurality of reciprocations to that at which the inadequate incisions were produced, and one of the rows of the last mentioned pairs of cutters operating to openv the severed strands simultaneously with the completion of their severance, and means for leveling the expanded sheet. I

13. A machine for producing reticulated metal work, comprising a pair of cutter holding elements, two distinct pairs of complemental cutters carried by said elements, means for advancing a metal sheet between said elements, said pairs of cutters acting simultaneously on said sheet in lines separated 'from each other the width of a plurality of strands, the first -of said pairs of cutters acting to produce a line of incomplete incisions in said sheet, and the other pair acting to complete the incisions of said line.

14. A machine for producing reticulated metal work, comprising a pair of cutter holding. elements, two distinct pairs of complemental cutters carried by said elements, means for advancing a metal sheet between said elements, said pairs of cutters' acting simultaneously on said sheet, the first of said pairs of cutters acting to produce a line of incomplete incisions in said sheet, and the other pair acting to complete said line o-f incisions when the sheet has advanced a distance removing said line a plurality of strands` from the line in which the first pair of cutters simultaneously acts to produce incomplete incisions.

"In testimony whereof I affix my signaioo ture in presence of two subscribing wit-- FRANK MURRAY WHE'ISTONE.

Witnesses SADm DEviNE, DAVID EICHBERG. 

